Strategic research programme: Information literacy and evidence-informed decision-making (LITERACY), call for invited applicants

11 March 2020
16 June  2020 at 16.15 Finnish time
1 October 2020–30 September 2023
Decided

The Finnish Government decided the 2020 themes and priorities for strategic research in its plenary session.

The Research Programme on Information Literacy and Evidence-Informed Decision-making will seek solutions to how knowledge and information can be used critically and constructively to support both individual and societal decision-making and actions. The cross-cutting priority for the research programme is communality which is intended to emphasise that every individual acts also as part of society.

The Strategic Research Council (SRC) at the Academy of Finland provides funding for long-term, solution-driven research of a high scientific standard that is aimed at identifying solutions to major societal problems and challenges. Special characteristics for strategic research funding include

  • Funding may only be granted to consortia. The consortia must follow the consortium structure required by the SRC.
  • Funding can be used to cover the salary of the consortium PI for the duration of the funding period. The SRC requires that consortium PIs commit themselves with a sufficient level of input to heading the consortium.
  • The composition of the consortium should be gender balanced.
  • The funding follows the full cost model and the Academy’s funding contribution comes to 100%.
  • Solving societal challenges requires not only research but also interaction aimed at societal impact between researchers and data users through the whole course of the project.
  • The funded consortia form a thematic programme that is coordinated by a programme director separately hired by the SRC. 

The strategic research call presented in this document has two stages. The first stage is open to all eligible applicants. SRC consortia shortlisted in the first call stage will be invited to submit full applications. The Strategic Research Council decides which consortia are invited.

SRC consortium PIs must have a doctoral degree and hold the title of docent or have research experience at the docent level. To be eligible, a consortium must include at least three subprojects, two organisations and three research fields. An SRC consortium must also have an interaction coordinator qualified in their own field.

The project duration in both programmes open for application is 3+3 years. The SRC is prepared to fund a total of 8–12 projects within the current programme calls. The call’s funding budget for the projects’ first three years has been set at a total of 34 million euros. The cost estimate for the projects must be realistic.

Before you write your application in the online services (SARA), make sure to carefully read the call text below as well as the Read more section, especially the funding terms and conditions. If the call text and the funding terms and conditions conflict, the terms and conditions should always be considered primary.

You can read about any changes in the call guidelines between the first and the second call stage on the call’s website.

Read the full call text below. Click on the link below to print the text or save it in PDF format.

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